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[zeromcd73]

New interview with Level 5 CEO
http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/column/16/032800001/060600006/

Main points of the interview:
- Wants to make all future Level 5 games support smartphones (even consumer games)
- The smartphone versions of these games will of course have to be a bit different from the consumer version
- Kids are moving on from 3ds -> smartphones
- 2016 is the year of Yokai Watch 3
- 2017 will be the year of many new beginnings

// Mod Edit:

After releasing their smartphone app Yo-kai Watch PuniPuni [Wibble Wobble in the West], Hino and the company has been astounded by its success. Level-5 will focus more on smartphone compatibility, and Hino even goes on to mention that he hopes to see all future titles from the company be compatible with smartphone, meaning he wants all future console titles have a way to be played via smartphone. Hino expects to have some kind of rule on how these console games will be carried onto smartphone, but he has realized that kids today are starting to play games on smartphone and felt a change in generation when looking back not so long ago when all the boys in first grade would only talk about the Nintendo 3DS. He feels that smartphone presence in the industry will only continue to grow.

Read more at http://www.siliconera.com/2016/06/1...6-plenty-new-starts-2017/#O80bfJbBFf3k4FC3.99

 

[Nirolak]

Copy bump.

Good idea. It's smart to stay with the market.

I take the last note to mean the Inazuma 11 reboot and Snack World are 2017. Maybe Ni no Kuni 2 as well.

 

[jwk94]

So what would that mean for Ni No Kuni 2? And whatever happened to that coin game they had?

 

[Jawbreaker]

So what would that mean for Ni No Kuni 2? And whatever happened to that coin game they had?

It's cancelled on PS4 and has now become a smartphone exclusive.

 

[Alrus]

So far their smartphone efforts have been pretty mediocre.

So what would that mean for Ni No Kuni 2? And whatever happened to that coin game they had?

That game came out on smart phone and flopped really hard. NNK2 is still coming to PS4 afaik, as it's geared toward a western audience (since the PS4 version of the first one bombed in Japan).

 

[Tagg9]

So what would that mean for Ni No Kuni 2? And whatever happened to that coin game they had?

Most likely nothing unless they want to develop an app that ties into the console game.

 

[23qwerty]

so is Dark Cloud 3 never happening

 

[Nirolak]

So what would that mean for Ni No Kuni 2? And whatever happened to that coin game they had?

I'm guessing it will vary per title at first.

Like Yokai Watch 3 doesn't have a mobile version, but Snack World is 3DS/mobile.

Ni no Kuni 2 will probably have a separate mobile game since it's a PS4 title, but Level 5 overwhelmingly makes handheld games (as far as non-handheld titles go) where much closer smartphone/handheld development is plausible.

Ni no Kuni 1 actually had a Java Feature Phone game IIRC.

Edit:

Yes:

 

[GSR]

This is basically the least surprising company this news could come from.

Layton 7 never actually came out by the way, did it?

 

[sbgwieser]

It´s a good idea to stay in the market, but that the same game on PS4 is also available on the smartphone is not an easy task for the game developer. I think it would better differentiate between mobile games and Triple AAA titles

 

[Philippo]

So Ni no Kuni 2 next year? Sounds like it.
Hope it's at E3.

 

[kurahador]

RIP Dark Cloud 3.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Probably smart, but I hate it.

Then again, I suppose the writing's kinda been on the wall for them making this kind of switch.

 

[takoyaki]

Layton 7 never actually came out by the way, did it?

yup, it went from a city RPG with puzzle elements in 2013 to a Mafia/Werewolves-like card game in 2015 to never getting released at all. It's probably for the best, both versions of Layton 7 looked horrible.

 

[...Scatter...]

Kids have no taste. I can't play on my phone. Controls are poor and I get battery charge anxiety. Phone barely survives a whole day without gaming.

 

[Data West]

So what would that mean for Ni No Kuni 2? And whatever happened to that coin game they had?

Wasn't Ni No Kuni much more successful in the West than in Japan?

 

[DarkLordMalik]

I don't understand all the RIP Dark Cloud 3 comments. Just like Bandai Namco hired them to developed Ni No Kuni 2, Sony can fund Dark Cloud 3 if they want, and get it developed by Level 5.

 

[Dark_castle]

Well, fuck you too.

 

[Usobuko]

I'll like to see them take on mixi, gungho and colopl too.

 

[23qwerty]

I don't understand all the RIP Dark Cloud 3 comments. Just like Bandai Namco hired them to developed Ni No Kuni 2, Sony can fund Dark Cloud 3 if they want, and get it developed by Level 5.

It's just sounding less and less likely that it's gonna happen

 

[Nirolak]

I'll like to see them take on mixi, gungho and colopl too.

Yokai Watch Puni Puni has been doing pretty well overall.

Not millions of dollars a day well like some of the companies you mentioned, but still well.

 

[Wagram]

As long as it's not intrusive on the console product i'm fine with it.

 

[Jawbreaker]

Well, fuck you too.

What's wrong with them catering to a much larger market that would be receptive to their titles? It's not like they're suddenly going to stop releasing games on handheld or consoles.

 

[Hegor59]

As long as they don't stop working on consoles, I'm fine with it.
However, it kinda pains me a little to see that kids are more interested by mobile games than handheld games.

 

[Jawbreaker]

As long as they don't stop working on consoles, I'm fine with it.
However, it kinda pains me a little to see that kids are more interested by mobile games than handheld games.

It's more convenient and less expensive for parents to purchase one device for their children where everything is consolidated. There's no shortage of small, cheap (or free) titles on these devices.

 

[LaronX]

Not all to happy with that trend. I can see why they do it, but I think a lot of companies over estimate how dedicated ( and willing to pay) people more so kids are going games on a gaming machine vs a smartphone.

That said it sounds like level 5 basically wants to use smartphones to lure in costumers.

 

[silva1991]

Of course they will

why am I even surprised?

just don't fuck up you're potentially last console game ok? I need Ni No Kuni 2 to be good for my JRPGs library.

 

[Delio]

Seems about right. Also doesn't seem like they will just dump the handheld versions so no real big deal.

 

[Exentryk]

- Wants to make all future Level 5 games support smartphones (even consumer games)
- The smartphone versions of these games will of course have to be a bit different from the consumer version

As long as the game design of consumer (console) games doesn't get compromised in any way by mobile versions, it's all good.

Also, NNK sounds like a 2017 title. Hopefully first half of 2017.

 

[menacin]

yes goddammnit. all smart phones need to be able to connect to a ps3 controller, ps4 controller, xbox controllers natively and easily.

and then bam, play n64 quality (mario 64) and above ( which is a great base foundation standard)

on our phones.

and once internet quality increases, and we can all remote play from our pcs at home. well. unlimited possiblitleistliseltse jdfksl;/.,,.e@*&#KJHDFM<N['olkdsf\dsf45sdfljkfnei#"#l:"

 

[ReaperXL7]

I could easily see Level 5 making a pokemonesque tie in for Ni No Kuni 2 on mobile. It's really (surprisingly) untapped market on smart phones since Nintendo/TPC don't seem to want to go down that path.

There are some really cheap pokemon clones on mobile but they are mostly trash/low quality overall so I think Level 5 could really make some money there.

 

[checkeredknight]

I'd be up for a Layton smart phone game, separate to Layton Bros.

 

[Aostia]

Smart decision even if they have been vastly more successful on nintendo portables than in mobile. Companion apps like the yokai watch ones or even cross projects like snack world seem the best way imho.
We will see when and where inazuma and snack world will hit but in particular we will see their NX approach.

 

[FantasticMrSnake]

So what would that mean for Ni No Kuni 2? And whatever happened to that coin game they had?

This, please don't ruin this game! =(

BTW, didn't ni no kuni 1 had a DS version?

 

[Genio88]

Would be great, unfortunately i gave up on Nintendo handhelds cause i have no space to carry them with me among Surface Pro 4, smartphone, chargers etc, though i'd love to be able to play those games everytime on my phone, Capcom has been doing that too with Phoenix Wright and Ghost Trick, hopefully they'll keep doing that, i know it's bad for handheld consoles life, but it's so much more comfortable being able to play all the mobile games you want on the device that you always have with you

 

[Kudo]

Smart move for them, if they're trying to appeal to Japanese audience only.
I wouldn't worry about Ni no Kuni 2, the game was revealed at PSX and not TGS so I'd assume their main audience is not Japan.

 

[mao2]

I don't understand all the RIP Dark Cloud 3 comments. Just like Bandai Namco hired them to developed Ni No Kuni 2, Sony can fund Dark Cloud 3 if they want, and get it developed by Level 5.

Isn't Ni no Kuni their own IP? Bandai Namco are just publishing both games outside of Japan.

 

[Illucio]

True for most teens.

But for parents of young kids I'm sure they prefer to get 3DS's for their kids so they aren't hogging/stealing their phone.

 

[Jon Carter]

WRC is also a game that released day and date on both 3DS and mobile devices. It's a new approach to multiplatform development that could be beneficial to handhelds as well, the same way console multiplats turned both the PS3 and 360 into successes. Those AAA games wouldn't have been made if there had just been one viable system to release them on.

 

[Mivey]

Why not just make games that only work on smarthpone? Big declarations like "everything is mobile now!" are not going to help them win over any market. I guess it's something investors like to hear, though.

 

[Petrae]

True for most teens.

But for parents of young kids I'm sure they prefer to get 3DS's for their kids so they aren't hogging/stealing their phone.

Hand-me-down phones are pretty popular, and entry-level tablet prices aren't terrible. Dedicated handhelds can't match the amount of free/cheap apps that the mobile sector has-- and comparatively expensive software is a turn-off for many parents.

 

[mao2]

WRC is also a game that released day and date on both 3DS and mobile devices. It's a new approach to multiplatform development that could be beneficial to handhelds as well, the same way console multiplats turned both the PS3 and 360 into successes. Those AAA games wouldn't have been made if there had just been one viable system to release them on.

What's WRC? Square Enix also have a few titles that are multi-platform on iOS/Android and Vita like Romancing SaGa 2 and Adventures of Mana. However, they're full-priced console quality games, and it doesn't look like they're doing that well on smartphones.

 

[televator]

Are analog stick attachments a well supported thing on smart phones and tablets? I'd be more open to the wide spread move to smart phone development if that is the case.

 

[Ansatz]

Hand-me-down phones are pretty popular, and entry-level tablet prices aren't terrible. Dedicated handhelds can't match the amount of free/cheap apps that the mobile sector has-- and comparatively expensive software is a turn-off for many parents.

Isn't that why Iwata said a couple of years ago that the concept of buying expensive dedicated gaming hardware and premium priced software for it is outdated.

It seems obvious to me that Nintendogs dropped in sales because parents don't see the value of a premium pet sim when they can download free throwaway apps on their phone for their kids to mess around with.

It will be interesting to see what strategy Nintendo comes up with to combat this, I think part of the solution is to lower the barrier of entry, both for the hardware and software. It's a psychological barrier they need to overcome more than anything. In theory if you reduce the fee to enter an amusement park but charge more for the individual rides, more people would visit the park and guests would end up spending the same amount of money on average.

 

[themagicalkitsune]

What's wrong with them catering to a much larger market that would be receptive to their titles? It's not like they're suddenly going to stop releasing games on handheld or consoles.

It's the trademark kneejerk reaction whenever mobile is mentioned.

I'm all for it. YW would be ace on smartphones

 

[Swass]

My son is 4 and he plays on a iPad and iPhone, but he see's me playing on console and he can't wait to get his hands on a controller.. I feel, at least for my son, when he is a bit older that he will ditch touch gaming.

 

[Tizoc]

That's cool, at least it'd be one way to introduce my younger relatives to their work

 

[Langdon Alger]

Dark days ahead.

 

[Chaos17]

RIP Fantasy life.

 

[Philippo]

As long as they're well thought out and not shabby cash-ins i'm open to smartphone developement.
Also a Pokémon-like Ni no Kuni/Yokai Watch for mobile would be amazing.